Facing the Lions: A Tale of Two Men, Daniel 6
Notes
Transcript
Thank you, Josh, Pat and Andrew for reading the passage for us!
Daniel 6 is one of the best known passages in the Bible: God rescues Daniel in the Lion’s Den!
This is well known, and children even know it and study it.
I believe we can learn from this, even as adults.
I titled the message, Facing the Lions: A Tale of Two Men, because though the passage has many characters—Darius the King, Daniel, 120 Satraps and 2 Administrators (beside Daniel)—the focus is on Darius, and Daniel. Through the story, we get to see a little glimpse into who these men were—that is, their character. We also get a glimpse into how they handle trials. Daniel went through the trial of being thrown into the Lion’s Den. Darius had the trial of knowing he put his friend in harms way.
So, lets study our way through Daniel 6, and learn about these two men that faced the Lion’s Den.
Let’s begin our study with prayer, and then, begin in verse 1.
Prayer
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.
Reading the Bible, always ask questions. The first question for me when reading this is:
Who is Darius?
Who is Darius?
Darius is the king over Babylon after the Medes and Persians conquered the city, as we read in chapter 5. Chapter 5 verses 30 and 31 state:
That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain,
and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
Who is Darius the Mede?
We have not other records from that time period that tell us who Darius the Mede is. Because of this, some secular scholars question Daniel’s accuracy. Well, in every other way they have questioned Daniel, it has eventually been found that Daniel was correct in what he recorded.
Many scholars believe that Daniel is accurate, and they have given a few plausible ideas of who Darius the Mede is.
First, it was not uncommon for rulers to be known by different names in different settings.
Therefore, some believe that Darius the Mede is Cyrus, the Persian King. One way Daniel 6:31 could be translated is,
“So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius, even (that is), the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
Against this view is the fact that in Daniel 9:1,
In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom—
Darius is said to be the son of Xerxes, or Ahasuerus, a Mede by descent. This would not be true of Cyrus.
A second option is that Darius the Mede is the name used by the man who was made ruler over Babylon by Cyrus.
Ugbaru conquered the city, but died 8 days after Cyrus came to the city and appointed a ruler. Gubaru was the man he appointed as the ruler of the city, and province of Babylon.
We have other historical records that this man appointed governors and other rulers. Being that he was over the most influential, and lucrative province in the empire, this man would likely have been looked at as a king.
I believe that this Gubaru is likely the one who was a Mede by descent, and appointed as ruler over the province of Babylon, and likely took the name Darius as his name.
It was likely that this man used men who were already in some position of authority in Babylon, who knew the people and workings of the area.
However, Darius was wise to be sure that there was accountability! If these men were already familiar with those with whom they were dealing, it would be easy to cheat the new king out of some of the revenue that was coming in.
That is who Darius the Mede is.
Now, let’s keep reading.
Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
Daniel’s Character
Daniel’s Character
Daniel was truly deserving of this honored position. He was doing what the king wanted. He was an honest man, keeping those under him honest. Daniel was now about 80 years old. He certainly knew the people with whom he was dealing, and he knew the province well. There was not cheating that Daniel wouldn’t catch!
I love that they could not find ANY grounds for charges against Daniel. He lived to honor the Lord, doing his best for the Lord’s glory. There was no corruption in him.
I also love that Daniel was known as a worshipper of God. They knew about Daniel following the law of the Lord. They brought this up as the only basis for which they might bring a charge against Daniel. Later in the story, they even knew that he prayed three times a day! Daniel lived in such a way, that people knew his love and worship of the Lord.
Daniel was honest, and a worshipper of God. What a character resume!
So, to get rid of this honest man, they had to do something to get him in trouble, knowing that he was a true follower of God, who would always obey the Lord.
So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!
The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.
Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
So King Darius put the decree in writing.
This shows us something about the other main character in the account, Darius. This shows us a glimpse into
Darius’ Character
Darius’ Character
This was quite the plot. These men knew Daniel’s character. They also knew Darius’ character. Darius was influence by flattery. He must have worried about what people thought of him. He wanted everyone to recognize his authority.
Knowing this, these satraps and administrators were able to manipulate him to sign the decree with which they hoped to trap Daniel.
Honestly, the man must have had an ego to want everyone to pray to him instead of a god for thirty days.
So, he signed the decree.
Daniel, honest worshipper of God.
Darius, egotistical. Afraid of what people thought.
Now, let’s look at their responses when difficulties come.
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Daniel’s Response
Daniel’s Response
Daniel was not daunted by the decree. He would continue to worship the Lord who had taken care of him from the time he left Jerusalem as a teenager, until this time, when he was likely 80 years old.
Daniel was a man of prayer. He did not fret about what to do. He took it to the Lord, as he had done in the past. When Nebuchadnezzar threatened him with death, he prayed, and God answered.
Now, threatened with death, he prays.
Daniel relied upon the Lord.
But pay attention to the specifics here. Daniel prayed, giving thanks to the Lord. And he did this 3 times per day.
Daniel didn’t just pray with requests. He didn’t just take his list of wants to the Lord. He gave thanks to the Lord.
to HIS GOD
His habit
Let’s look at what happened next.
Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”
When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
Darius’ Dilemma
Darius’ Dilemma
But at the end of the day, he could not save his friend.
Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
Darius’ Last Hope
Darius’ Last Hope
May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you.
Now, they are facing not just the thought of what might come, but the actual trial. Daniel was in the Lion’s den.
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.
Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
Darius’ Night of Fright
Darius’ Night of Fright
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.
When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!
Daniel’s Night of Peace
Daniel’s Night of Peace
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly!
“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.
He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
God is Exalted
God is Exalted
What about me?
What about me?
What is my character?
What is my character?
Am I known as thinking of myself?
Am I known as honest?
Am I known as a true worshipper of God?
How do I respond in trials?
How do I respond in trials?
Do I fret and try to figure it out myself?
Do I pray?
Do I pray fervently, throughout the day?
Do I pray giving thanks?
Do I pray to MY God?
Am I fretful, not finding rest?
Am I at rest in the Lord’s provision?
Do people exalt the Lord?
Do people exalt the Lord?
Do people see my life and exalt the Lord as they see what He does through me?
Let’s remember today, and the rest of this week:
“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.
He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”